“In a single week in the summer of 1973, a quiet suburban neighborhood implodes when generations of mystical deceit become too much to bear. Drawn to the web of secrets and lies, the other worldly slivers refuse to be ignored, pushing one family to the brink.” –From https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/slivers/
Another good read from a fellow blogger! I’m so impressed with the talent in my small WP circle. “Slivers” is the second book written by Vicki Atkinson and her first fiction novel. I loved her first book “Surviving Sue” which documents her life as a survivor with her mother who was an alcoholic, had Alzheimers, anxiety, depression and Munchausen’s. Vicki not only survived, she championed her disabled sister while becoming a licensed professional counselor with a doctorate in Adult Education and degrees in Psychology.
I’ve been reading reviews and snippets of “Slivers” on Vicki’s blog VictoriaPonders and I couldn’t wait to get my copy.
The supernatural elements of “Slivers” are based on Scottish lore of creatures with a hive mind. I knew the book was going to be spooky but it surprised me with twists and turns. The characterrs were well developed and Vicki did an amazing job with the kids. They seemed real with distinct personalities and voices.
I’m not going into more detail, but encourage you to read it.
This is the third book by bloggers that I’ve read in a few weeks. I wrote reviews of Eve Marie’s “Quest for Absence” and P.J. Gudka’s “Perfect” HERE. Eve’s blog is Cupcakecacheblog and Pooja’s is Lifesfinewhine.
I highly recommend all three books. They are better than anything I’ve read lately!
I will confess that February got by me without much reading. Each month I am posting my daughter-in-law’s AP English reading syllabus. I agreed to do the reading, but not the writing assignments. If you want to follow along, my first posts of each month have the syllabus. Each month the reading goes back in time from current days — to now Shakespeare.
I haven’t been able to focus probably thanks to surgery and recovery. Plus once I get done preparing taxes, I hope to do more reading.
So what is keeping me busy? Social events. Photography. Sitting in my backyard, watching birds while reading Amy Tan’s “Backyard Bird Chronicles.” Also, I downloaded the Merlin App and I am learning what bird’s songs and calls are what. The first bird identified was — you guessed it — a Northern Cardinal.
I’m fortunate with March’s reading list. I’ve read “Pride and Prejudice,” “Hamlet” and “The Tempest.” Whew! As far as watching “Clueless” I can do that. I had no idea it was based on Jane Austen’s “Emma.”
What plans do you have for March?
What have you read on this month’s reading syllabus?
Did you know that Clueless was based on Jane Austin? Or am I the clueless one?
I don’t know where January went. Probably because I’ve been laid up for half the month. It went pretty quickly, although some days dragged on and on for me. The Bird Buddies have been keeping me company. There’s always plenty to watch and enjoy with the birds and squirrels in our backyard.
I have a pretty busy week ahead so more time will fly. I can’t believe it’s time to post another reading list. I am getting further and further behind with my Daughter In Law’s syllabus for AP English. I had agreed to read along with her class, but I have a feeling I’ll be reading well into the summer to catch up!
READING LIST:
I’m looking forward to reading Emily Dickinson and Shelley’s “Ode to a Skylark.” Dickinson was one of my mom’s favorite poets. And because it’s a new month, my mom is on my mind. I’ve shared this before, but we called each other at the beginning of each month to say “Happy February First” or whatever month it was. It was a race to be able to say it first. I miss her. She was an avid bird watcher and when she was in high school she created a book of all the birds she’d seen along with sketches and paintings of them, much like “The Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan. I can’t help but think she’s smiling down on me pleased with my bird photos.
Happy February to you!
What have you read on this months reading list?
One more photo of Red. He likes the birdseed that I’m buying. It has a photo of a Cardinal on the front of the bag.
We were treated to a beautiful sunset the other night.
Today is December 1. Happy December First! On the first day of each month, my mom and I would rush to be the first one to call on the phone with that greeting.
It’s time for a new reading list from my DIL’s AP English syllabus. I didn’t complete November’s reading because of two trips to help my kids post surgeries. I did enjoy “The Stranger” by Camus and Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.” It was my first time reading “The Stranger.”
Here’s December’s Reading List:
Have you read any of the short fiction or novel from the syllabus? If so, what have your read?
It’s that time of the month to post my son and DIL’s reading syllabus for the next month! My DIL teaches English at a private school for students who may struggle with school for various reasons, but are very intelligent. I’m posting the current reading assignments in case you’d like to follow along — or are looking for something good to read.
I will admit, I didn’t keep up with October’s reading list. I wondered how the month went by so quickly! I did read — plus listen to “Revolutionary Road” by Richard Yates. I read Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” on the flight to and from Oakland. I’m currently reading “The Stranger” by Camus.
I’m behind, but the syllabus is expanding my reading to include poetry, novellas, plays and fiction that I normally wouldn’t read. I see that as a good thing, even though I’m not sticking to the schedule.
My son had his pre-op appointment for his surgery and wouldn’t you know it? It’s the day after my bunion surgery. I postponed my surgery until next year. I’m going up to take care of my son in November for his surgery, just like I did in October for my daughter. We are enjoying taking care of our grand-dog Waffles in between surgeries. We are on a pretty good schedule and I look forward to our walks together almost as much as Waffles does!
Before I get to the homework assignment, I’m sharing a photo of the beach from Saturday’s morning walk. We got to the beach extra early because it was the start of Labor Day Weekend at the beach. The freeway was stopped on Friday afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. through the night. We were expecting to have no parking at the beach and believed it would be really crowded. You can see going early paid off!
My DIL is teaching AP English to high school seniors this year. She and my son worked together on her curriculum for the year. They were both Lit Majors at the College of Creative Studies at UC Santa Barbara. They selected poetry, short stories and novels to read beginning in modern times and then going back 50 years, 100, 150, etc.
They asked if I wanted to read along with them, as they are planning on conquering the list as well as my DIL’s students. I said yes!
I’m posting the first two pages of the syllabus which covers September. Early October I’ll post those assignments, because I think posting all 13 pages at once would be overwhelming. The short stories were excellent. I also am enjoying re-reading “My Brilliant Friend,” which shockingly was published almost 15 years ago! I can’t believe that much time has passed since I read it.
I remember loving this book which is the first of four in the NeapolitanSeries. I wrote a blog post about it and was surprised at the comments. Many people found it too gritty with too much violence and wondered about my taste! I found it to be filled with details and complex, memorable characters. I think it’s an accurate reflection of life in1950s Naples, where women led a subservient role to their husbands. The characters lived in a violent, poor neighborhood. It was interesting to get so many different opinions on the book.
Here’s September’s reading list:
FYI, I’m trying to do all the reading, but have not agreed to do the writing assignments! So far I’m on schedule. If you’re not interested in this reading challenge, at least you have an abundance of literature to add to your TBR list!
There’s a lot of poetry to read which reflects my DIL as a published poet. Here’s a poem of hers that I love, I know I’ve shared it before, so if you’ve read it, enjoy it a second time! Maybe it will be a first for you.
Coal Oil Point Tonight the sky with its plummy texture Is especially dear to me, and the small purple Flowers shuddering in the sand. Tonight the wind curls soft and salty against My bare arms with that strange lively mourning. You let me look at you and understand that Nobody has ever had eyes like yours, fringed with Red-gold lashes, and nobody will again. I look up at the stars and pity them: The more they burn the faster they die. How I burn makes me live beyond myself.
Catherine Simpson is a cellist who lives in Berkeley. She has been previously published in Big River Poetry Review, Right Hand Pointing, Spectrum, Step Away Magazine, Into the Teeth of the Wind, Poydras Review, and Splash of Red.
Are you familiar with the Neapolitan Series by Elena Ferrante? If you’ve read any of her books, what did you think?
Did you know that Elena Ferrante is a pseudonym?
Elena Ferrante maintains her anonymity for a combination of artistic, practical, and personal reasons, prioritizing the work itself over the author’s public persona. She believes that once a book is written, it should speak for itself, and the author’s identity is irrelevant. — Google’s AI Overview
It immediately gave me a Palm Springs vibe. The pink wall, the palm trees, the pool. Plus Snowbirds. That’s what we called the influx of visitors or seasonal residents from the cold snowy north and east.
I read the review and yes, the story takes place in Palm Springs — where I lived for more than 30 years and raised my children.
I wanted to buy it in paperback, but no, it’s not out in paperback yet. I didn’t want to spend the money — or have the heavy lifting involved with reading a hardcover. I went to Audible and downloaded it. I’ve listened to it during the past couple days and finished it over the weekend.
What I liked best was not the story, but all the details about Palm Springs. The author captured many of my favorite haunts like the Indian Canyons, Smoke Tree Ranch, Melvyn’s and even Revivals thrift store. Although somewhat stereotyped, the author captured the gay community, elderly population and homeless. I also enjoyed how the spirit of Palm Springs was portrayed. Endless sunny days and everyone living as though they are on vacation.
Here’s the notes from Amazon:
INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER! | “A riveting exploration of midlife yearning.” ―People The Last Thing He Told Me meets Fleishman Is in Trouble in this page-turning story of a couple who flee winter in the Midwest for Palm Springs, where they find their relationship at a crossroads.
Kim and Grant are at a turning point. A couple for thirty years, their “separate but together” partnership is running up against the realities of late middle age: Grant’s mother has died, the college where he taught philosophy was shuttered, and their twin girls are grown and gone. Escaping the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter for the hot desert sun of Palm Springs seems as good a solution as any to the more intractable problems they face.
When they arrive at Le Desert, a quirky condo community where everyone knows everyone’s business, Kim immediately embraces the opportunity to make new friends and explore a more adventurous side of her personality. Meanwhile, Grant struggles to find his footing in this unfamiliar landscape, leaving Kim to wonder if their relationship can survive the snowbird season. But when Grant goes missing on a hike in the Palm Springs mountains, Kim is forced to consider two terrifying outcomes: either Grant is truly lost, or this time, he’s really left her.
Is it ever too late to become the person we wanted to be―and is there still time to change into someone better? The exhilarating, but often confusing transitions of midlife are pitched against the promise and glamour of Palm Springs in this tender, honest story of what it takes to commit to someone for a lifetime. With compassion and humor, Clancy explores the redemptive power of finding ourselves, and of being found.
The only thing I didn’t like about the Audible version was the pronunciation of Mt. San Jacinto. San Jacinto is the dramatic backdrop to Palm Springs. The “J” is pronounced as “H.” The readers on Audible used a hard “J.” I think they need to do a little homework before releasing a reading of a book.
This is the view of Mt. San Jacinto from the park by my former home.
Do you like audio books, kindles, paperbacks or hardcovers best and why?
